Uses in tobacco and as a tobacco flavor additive of enol esters

Abstract

Processes and compositions are described for the use in tobacco flavor and aroma augmenting and enhancing compositions and as tobacco aroma and flavor augmenting, imparting and enhancing materials of one or more alkyl side chain methyl unsubstituted 2,2,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-vinyl alkanoates (hereinafter referred to as "enol esters") having the generic structure: ##STR1## (which structure is intended to cover both the "cis" and the "trans" isomers thereof) wherein R 1 is straight chain alkyl having 1, 3, 7 or 11 carbon atoms.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for augmenting or enhancing the aroma or taste of smoking tobacco comprising intimately admixing with smoking tobacco an augmenting or enhancing quantity of at least one enol ester defined by the structure: ##STR48## wherein R 1  is straight chain alkyl having 1, 3, 7 or 11 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is methyl and the ester moiety is in a "cis" relationship to the cyclohexenyl moiety. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim 1 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is n-propyl and the ester moiety is in a "trans" relationship to the cyclohexenyl moiety. 
     
     
       4. The process of claim 1 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is n-heptyl and the ester moiety is in a "cis" relationship to the cyclohexenyl moiety. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim 1 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is n-heptyl and the ester moiety is in a "trans" relationship to the cyclohexenyl moiety. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 wherein, in the enol eter, R 1  is n-undecyl. 
     
     
       7. A smoking tobacco article comprising smoking tobacco wrapped in a smokeable wrapping, said wrapping or said tobacco, or both said wrapping and said tobacco having imparted thereto an aroma or taste augmenting or enhancing quantity of an enol ester defined by the structure: ##STR49## wherein R 1  is straight chain alkyl having 1, 3, 7 or 11 carbon atoms. 
     
     
       8. A smoking tobacco article defined according to claim 7 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is methyl and the ester moiety is in a "cis" relationship to the cyclohexenyl moiety. 
     
     
       9. A smoking tobacco article defined according to claim 7 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is n-propyl and the ester moiety is in a "trans" relationship to the cyclohexenyl moiety. 
     
     
       10. A smoking tobacco article defined according to claim 7 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is n-heptyl and the ester moiety is in a "cis" relationship to the cyclohexenyl moiety. 
     
     
       11. A smoking tobacco article defined according to claim 7 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is n-heptyl and the ester moiety is in a "trans" relationship to the cyclohexenyl moiety. 
     
     
       12. A smoking tobacco article defined according to claim 7 wherein, in the enol ester, R 1  is n-undecyl.